Total Cost of a M3 Track Day for an Advanced Driver:

[1MORELAP]

School fee - $300
Tires - $100 ($1,000 per set, 10 days to wear them)
Pads and brake fluid - $100 ($500 per set [F+R], 5 days to wear them out)
Fuel - $100
Oil - $20 ($100 per change, 5 days)
Total - $600 to $650

If traveling to and from add $100 for hotel and $50 for fuel.

I assumed BMW pays for rotors and all fluids and that your insurance covers you. Some may want to add rotors and track insurance... what another $200-300?

I got to try carting or get a MUCH lighter car.

[R A W L S]

I've been thinking about how much a lighter car would save in track wear costs too.

Is it accurate to assume that a car like the Porsche Cayman S that weighs approximately 3000 lbs and is roughly 20% lighter than an M3 which weighs 3750 lbs, is also 20% easier on track wear items? If so, that means the OP's estimated costs of tires, brake pads and fluid, fuel, and rotors of $400 total per track day, would be reduced by $80 (400 x 20%) per track day. Over 10 track days per year equates to $800 in reduced track wear costs. Over 4 years that's $3200 saved. Real money. And I think the OP was being conservative on tires too. I never get more than 6 track days out of mine. I bet the total savings numbers are more like $100/day, $1000/yr, and $4000 over four years, using the Cayman S vs the M3 for the comparison.

Does anyone know if the assumptions and the calculations used here are reasonably accurate to measure potential real world track wear cost savings?

[Malakas]

Consumables depend on several variables in addition to the weight of your car. Ex: I had a Carrera 4s (996) which had massive brakes from the heavier Turbo. Im also not terribly hard on the brakes during DEs... Running approx 12 days / year I replaced my oem rotors at 50k miles and Oem pads at 45k miles. Not too shabby.

Tires however were a different story. I ran my street tires at the track and they would last 4-6 months tops. Problem was - it ran 295/45/18s in back which are expensive.

Other costs included gas, oil, alignments, mods etc!

But yes, I'd agree with the OP: a lighter car like a Spec miata or Lotus Exige will be easier on tires / brakes AND the cost of replacing those parts is cheaper.

[LiM3y]

Wow - I had my OEM rotors/pads replaced at 19K and 42K at the front. My rear pads need to be changed now at 46K. I have a heavy right foot...on th wrong pedal!

I switched to track pads a year ago and used most of a set of PFC-01s, most of a set of Hawk DTC70s () and just about two sets of XP-12s at the front in ~15 track days. Next year, I am hooking up ducts and getting front BBK!

[m3bs]

Sounds way cheap. I figure $1000 per weekend on my E36M3 track car, and that's without entry fee (instructor). I am including rotor replacement, however.

If/when I ever take the E92 out, I'd expect it to be considerably higher - more HP and weight, so more gas, tires, brakes, etc.

[Malakas]

For sure - this hobby is expensive. I was converting the Porsche into a dedicated track car when I realized that nowadays, I get to the track 4x / year. I think it really depends on your goals and frequency of use. I've heard that tires / pads / rotors on a SM can last up to a full season.

I looked in to buying one and a colleague asked if I'd be happy doing 110mph on the straight of Texas World Speedway. Yeah, prob not.

Now like "m3bs" Im trying to convince my buddy to turn his E36M into a track beast that we can share costs on!

[Gearhead999s]

I am well over $1000 per/day without entry fees as I am also an instructor/organizer.I run NT05's which keeps my tire costs down compared to running R compounds which only last 4 days vs 12 + for the NT05's.Running a BBK has also lowered my costs compared to running the stock stuff.Our costs are higher in Canada than in the USA.

[lucid]

OP, I take it that you are assuming tracking a "brand new" M3. In a new car, consumables can be limited to tires, brakes and oil for the most part, but in a not so new car, the list starts to grow such as all sorts of engine accessories and suspension and drivetrain parts that end up wearing out faster than they would. For a new M3--assuming it is kept bone stock, which is another discussion given people who track their cars will most likely start messing with it at some point--your estimate of $700/day with fuel and no fees sound reasonable although I'd say it is more like in the $800-$1000/day range.

[1MOREMOD]

bmw isnt gonna pay for rotors more than once are they?

[lucid]

They'd probably do it twice in 4 years, but I can see it being very iffy after that...

[Malek@MRF]

BMW will not replace your brakes if you track your car or even drive it aggressively.

I am telling you from experience. They will even do you the favor of flagging your car.

I solved my own problem by taking off the stock rotors and throwing them into the lathe and resurfacing them.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by Malekreza11

BMW will not replace your brakes if you track your car or even drive it aggressively.

I am telling you from experience. They will even do you the favor of flagging your car.

I solved my own problem by taking off the stock rotors and throwing them into the lathe and resurfacing them.

Could they tell that you were tracking the car? How can they prove it?

[LateBraking]

Originally Posted by 1MORELAP

School fee - $300
Tires - $100 ($1,000 per set, 10 days to wear them)
Pads and brake fluid - $100 ($500 per set, 5 days to wear them)
Fuel - $100
Oil - $20 ($100 per change, 5 days)
Total - $600 to $650

If traveling to and from add $100 for hotel and $50 for fuel.

I assumed BMW pays for rotors and all fluids and that your insurance covers you. Some may want to add rotors and track insurance... what another $200?

I got to try carting or get a MUCH lighter car.

How much more do we add for transmission and differential oil, and how many days do most do before swapping those? Or do you guys do it all at the same time?

[1MORELAP]

Originally Posted by R A W L S

I've been thinking about how much a lighter car would save in track wear costs too.

Is it accurate to assume that a car like the Porsche Cayman S that weighs approximately 3000 lbs and is roughly 20% lighter than an M3 which weighs 3750 lbs, is also 20% easier on track wear items? If so, that means the OP's estimated costs of tires, brake pads and fluid, fuel, and rotors of $400 total per track day, would be reduced by $80 (400 x 20%) per track day. Over 10 track days per year equates to $800 in reduced track wear costs. Over 4 years that's $3200 saved. Real money. And I think the OP was being conservative on tires too. I never get more than 6 track days out of mine. I bet the total savings numbers are more like $100/day, $1000/yr, and $4000 over four years, using the Cayman S vs the M3 for the comparison.

Does anyone know if the assumptions and the calculations used here are reasonably accurate to measure potential real world track wear cost savings?

I had a Cayman S before. I put its operating cost on par with the M3. As you see my estimate of $700 is someone's $1,000 with which I agree. Although Cayman's brakes and tires may wear a bit slower they are still equally expensive - more or less same size.

I am thinking go karts or a Miata or a Mini. But Miatas are SLOW. Maybe if they come out with a turbo or SC'ed one.

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by Z K

Could they tell that you were tracking the car? How can they prove it?

They said the rotors were too far out of spec and judged it based on the color of the rotor. They opened a case for it, sent out a field engineer and they said no.

Big pile of BS if you ask me considering it took them over 2 days to figure this out, while also scratching my clear bra and refusing to give a BMW loaner car and said a Yaris is all I can get.

I guess it's nothing new though, some dealerships are a joke, this one specifically being Irvine BMW.

[LiM3y]

The fixing your tracked car under warranty is dealer related thing.

My service guy knows that I track the car and have changed the front brake pads and rotors twice at 19K and 42k. These are within BMW specs for changing under maintenance. The second time, there were suspected cracks around the drill holes. They have even flushed the brake lines and clutch with Ate Gold each time when making the switches - I provided the fluids.

They knew I tracked the car and I had a "straight up" conversation with the SA about what they would and would not do, what would be abuse and what would not. He said they like getting the car in to see what a "pushed" M3 looks like, rather than the garage queens they tend to get. I have even sent them films! That being said, they haven't written to me offering an extended warranty!

I am either lucky, or the guy above is unlucky.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by Malekreza11

They said the rotors were too far out of spec and judged it based on the color of the rotor. They opened a case for it, sent out a field engineer and they said no.

Big pile of BS if you ask me considering it took them over 2 days to figure this out, while also scratching my clear bra and refusing to give a BMW loaner car and said a Yaris is all I can get.

I guess it's nothing new though, some dealerships are a joke, this one specifically being Irvine BMW.

Wow... I was going to hold off getting track pads because of the warranty. Maybe I should just do it since it looks like they might not warranty my brakes anyway.

[LateBraking]

Originally Posted by Malekreza11

I guess it's nothing new though, some dealerships are a joke, this one specifically being Irvine BMW.

You went to Irvine BMW that's why....

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by LateBraking

You went to Irvine BMW that's why....

Got any recommendations?

[LateBraking]

Originally Posted by Malekreza11

Got any recommendations?

lol Not in that area, and thank God I moved (service-wise, I did like Irvine as a city )

But really, it's more about the individuals you deal with. Just happens that there isn't even a single individual at Irvine that is decent. I've had decent experiences at Pacific BMW (despite what happened with that 1M sale, their service department is the only one that EVER fixed my 2008's transmission), South Bay BMW (if Caicedo still works there), and Long Beach BMW (I now stick with Maribelle at Long Beach BMW).

BTW, you coming with us to Buttonwillow tomorrow?

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by LateBraking

lol Not in that area, and thank God I moved (service-wise, I did like Irvine as a city )

But really, it's more about the individuals you deal with. Just happens that there isn't even a single individual at Irvine that is decent. I've had decent experiences at Pacific BMW (despite what happened with that 1M sale, their service department is the only one that EVER fixed my 2008's transmission), South Bay BMW (if Caicedo still works there), and Long Beach BMW (I now stick with Maribelle at Long Beach BMW).

BTW, you coming with us to Buttonwillow tomorrow?

Buttonwillow tomorrow??? I didn't know!

We definitely need to shoot the breeze at the next track event though man. I am having track withdrawals, so I hope it's sooner than later.

[dizzyj]

Originally Posted by 1MORELAP

I had a Cayman S before. I put its operating cost on par with the M3. As you see my estimate of $700 is someone's $1,000 with which I agree. Although Cayman's brakes and tires may wear a bit slower they are still equally expensive - more or less same size.

I am thinking go karts or a Miata or a Mini. But Miatas are SLOW. Maybe if they come out with a turbo or SC'ed one.

see my thread in the vs forum about an lsx miata.